TED’s Big Day Out is back, and The Forever Friends Appeal is using their heads to support Bath Royal United Hospital (RUH)  with this year’s theme: ‘wear a wig or raise a hat.’  

Taking place on Friday 18th October, thousands of teddies will venture out for the appeal’s annual fundraising day, and will be taken to work, school – or wherever they can help raise funds for the RUH Cancer Care campaign.

To make things even more exciting, The Forever Friends Appeal is encouraging schools, businesses, nurseries, clubs and community organisations to sign up to support the fundraising day by having fun with wigs and hats, where you can wear anything from top hats to trilby hats and colourful afros to a long red wig.

And this use of eccentric attire will be happening right here in Frome, which is served by the RUH. Volunteers and friends of the appeal will also be collecting £1 donations outside Ellenbray on the day.

One of the key supporters of this year’s Ted’s Big Day Out is Bath and Frome-based solicitors, Mogers, who helped launch the event last week. Steve Treharne managing partner at Mogers solicitors says, “We are delighted to be sponsoring Ted’s Big Day Out again this year. There aren’t many who go through life untouched by cancer which is why we adopted the appeal as our charity of the year; all of us know someone who has been affected directly or indirectly by the disease and supporting this worth-while LOCAL cause is just one way in which we are there for OUR community.”

The current focus of The Forever Friends Appeal is the RUH Cancer Care Campaign.  Their aim is to help build a new and pioneering Cancer Centre which balances clinical expertise with the provision of a nurturing and therapeutic environment.  The new centre will make patients feel safe, supported and special so that they can get through their treatment with the least amount of stress, and their families can feel that they are well supported as well.

Pledge to improve cancer care

Much of the existing RUH cancer services are located in inadequate, 70-year-old war-time accommodation.  It has been the long-term aim to seek a solution and bring cancer services at the RUH all under one roof.

The new cancer centre will be a partnership respectively between NHS and charitable funds.  The appeal is aiming to raise a total of some £8million towards the new centre, and thanks to the wonderful support of the public and two local foundations, the appeal has so far raised a fabulous £5.5million.  It is now down to the public and their continuing fundraising efforts that will help this pioneering building to be truly exceptional and vastly improve cancer care in this region.

Pictured above: Jo Hones from Forever Friends; Shane Ibbitson and Lesley Moore